San Diego Sockers Match Notes
February 19, 2021 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
The Sockers (1-2) continue their three-game Florida swing as they take on the defending MASL Eastern Conference champions, the Florida Tropics (7-2), in a 4pm affair from RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida. Both teams are looking to rebound from Thursday losses; the Sockers dropped a 5-1 decision to the Ontario Fury, while the Tropics let a 7-6 OT loss slip away against the Tacoma Stars. The Fury and Stars will play a contest preceding the San Diego-Florida tilt today. San Diego will play Tacoma on Sunday morning at 9am, while the Tropics will meet Ontario on Sunday afternoon, to close out the "Sunshine State Showdown".
Thursday saw San Diego and Ontario (3-0) battle through a rugged first half, with the Sockers taking their only lead on a Slavisa Ubiparipovic power play goal at 12:17 of the second quarter. The Fury answered back with five unanswered goals to close out the match. Justin Stinson equalized with :51 left in the half, Jorge DeLeon gave Ontario the lead for good at 6:29 of the third, and Franck Tayou scored a fourth quarter natural hat trick to secure the 5-1 victory. It was San Diego's second straight loss to Ontario after ten consecutive wins.
The Tropics took their first home loss on Thursday afternoon, surrendering a two-goal fourth quarter lead to Tacoma on route to a 7-6 decision. The Stars' Vini Dantas scored with six attackers in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, and Michael Ramos netted the golden goal just nine seconds into overtime. Florida leads the MASL in wins, but standings are determined in 2021 by winning percentage. Ian Bennett leads the league with 14 goals in nine matches played.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from February 19, 2021
- Comets Soar Past Sidekicks 10-6 - Kansas City Comets
- Sockers Nip Tropics 4-3 in OT on de Oliveira's Goal - San Diego Sockers
- Tropics Drop Second Straight Overtime Game, this Time 4-3 to San Diego Sockers - Florida Tropics SC
- Stars Fall Behind Early in 9-5 Loss to Ontario - Tacoma Stars
- San Diego Sockers Match Notes - San Diego Sockers
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